Top 10 playoff-related home runs in Dodgers history: Where does Uribe’s rank?

The Dodgers’ Juan Uribe watches the ball head for the left-field fence for a two-run homer in bottom of the eighth inning against the Atlanta Braves during Game 4 of the NLDS on Monday at Dodger Stadium. Photo by Hans Gutknecht/Staff Photographer

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And to think, one of the greatest home runs in Dodgers history may never have happened had Juan Uribe simply laid down a bunt.

But then, don’t the two botched sacrifice bunt attempts only add to the allure of the dramatic two-run home run Uribe eventually blasted Monday night in the bottom of the eighth inning to beat the Atlanta Braves in Game 4 of the National League Division Series, thus sending the Dodgers into the National League Championship Series and saving them from a win-or-go-home Game 5 in Atlanta?

The question now being, where exactly does Uribe’s home run rank among the all-time great Dodgers homers of the past?

Needless to say, way up there.

But more on that in a bit.

On any level, Uribe’s homer was a fascinating piece of heroics.

The Dodgers trailed 3-2 and were down to their final six outs against the best regular-season bullpen in baseball.

Their bats had essentially been silenced by Atlanta starter Freddy Garcia, and hope was fading.

They were on the verge of wasting a gutsy performance by Clayton Kershaw on three days’ rest while squandering all momentum to the Braves, who already were eyeing a return to Turner Field, where they built a 56-25 record through the regular season.

With optimism waning and anxiety building, the Dodgers needed something magical to happen in a hurry.

Yet, there was Uribe fouling off two bunts trying to move Yasiel Puig from second to third base.

And with two strikes, Uribe had to shift his focus back to swinging the bat against Atlanta’s hard-throwing Dave Carpenter, who was slinging 97-mph fastballs.

Not really the perfect set-up for one of the great home runs in franchise history, right?

On the contrary, it had all the necessary ingredients for something memorable.

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See, when analyzing the great home runs in team history, the out-of-nowhere element immediately jumps out.

As does the unlikeliness.

The two components typically go hand in hand, as you will see.

And without further adieu, here are the most memorable playoff-related home runs in Dodgers history.

1. Kirk Gibson’s ninth-inning blast to beat the Oakland A’s in Game 1 of the 1988 World Series

For sheer dramatics, nothing tops this home run in baseball history. For all intents and purposes, Gibson wasn’t even supposed to be playing after ravaging his body in the brutal seven-game series against the New York Mets in the NLCS. In fact, the home run represented his only appearance of the 1988 World Series.

But what an appearance it was, with Gibson convincing Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda his ailing legs would allow him to at least pinch-hit in the bottom of the ninth with the Dodgers trailing 4-3 against Dennis Eckersley, the best closer in baseball.

When Mike Davis worked a walk against Eckersley, out came Gibson from the dugout to pinch-hit for light-hitting infielder Dave Anderson, the crowd roaring its approval as he limped to home plate. Gibson fell behind 0-2, and then took two balls and fouled off a pitch to draw even at 2-2. On the sixth pitch of the at-bat, Davis stole second base to move into scoring position. Meanwhile, with the count now 3-2, Gibson remembered the advice of Dodgers scout Mel Didier, who advised him if Eckersley went 3-2 on a left-handed hitter he would certainly throw a back-door slider. Gibson looked for that exact pitch, got it, took a mighty swing and soon the ball was sailing over the right-field wall for a winning, series-altering two-run home run.

2. Rick Monday beats the Montreal Expos with a two-out home run in Game 5 of the 1981 NLCS

On a cold, dreary Monday in Montreal and the best-of-five NLCS tied 2-2, the Dodgers and Expos waged a tight pitchers’ duel in the deciding Game 5 with Dodgers ace Fernando Valenzuela matching the Expos’ Ray Burris pitch for pitch.

In fact, the only runs for either team through the first eight innings came on groundouts, and with the score tied 1-1 and Montreal starter Steve Rogers on the mound in relief, the Expos felt secure they’d retire the Dodgers in the top of the inning and take their own shot in the bottom of the ninth.

And after retiring the first two batters, that looked to be the case.

But Monday, who scored the only Dodgers run in the fifth inning, had other ideas. He worked the count to 3-1 and then took a wicked swing to send the ball scurrying out of Montreal’s stone-silent Olympic Stadium.

The Dodgers hung on for a 2-1 win to advance to the World Series. And remaining Expos fans will always remember the moment as Blue Monday.

3. Mike Scioscia ties Game 4 of the 1988 NLCS with a shot off Mets ace Dwight Gooden

When it comes to unlikely, few home runs top the stunner Scioscia hit off Gooden in the bottom of the ninth inning and with the Mets on the verge of going up 3-1 in the best-of-seven series.

And without this home run, it’s very likely Gibson’s World Series blast against the A’s never even happens.

Scioscia was anything but a home run hitter, as his three regular-season home runs would attest. Gooden was one of the premier pitchers of the 1980s, and with the Mets ahead 4-2 heading into the top of the ninth, there was no hesitation sending Gooden back out to close the game.

But lead-off hitter John Shelby battled back from a two-strike count to draw a walk, which was a key factor in the way Scioscia and Gooden approached the situation.

Gooden thought the light-hitting Scioscia would lay off the first pitch, knowing he had walked the previous batter. Scioscia thought Gooden would throw a fastball to immediately get ahead on the count.

The two differing views collided when Gooden threw the fastball Scioscia was anticipating, and Scioscia hit a tying home run over the right-field wall to point the Dodgers to a 5-4 win.

4. Kirk Gibson beats the Mets in Game 4 of the 1988 NLCS with a solo home run in the 12th

Again, none of this happens without Scioscia’s blast off Gooden in the ninth inning, but with the score tied 4-4 with two outs in the 12th and Mets reliever Roger McDowell on the mound, up stepped Gibson, the spiritual leader of the Dodgers.

And to complete an improbable win that saved the Boys in Blue from falling behind 3-1 to the mighty Mets, Gibson smashed a solo home run off McDowell to tie the series at two games apiece.

A day later, the Dodgers beat the Mets to return home to Los Angeles up three games to two, before winning Game 7 to advance to the World Series.

5. Juan Uribe’s two-run home run beats the Braves in Game 4 of the 2013 NLDS

With the Dodgers trailing 3-2, Uribe’s primary job was to move Yasiel Puig to third base with a sacrifice bunt to put the tying run 90 feet away.

The problem was Uribe couldn’t get the bunt down off Carpenter, the Braves’ hard-throwing reliever. And after two failed attempts, Uribe had to swing away, the hope being he’d drive in Puig with a base hit or advance him to third somehow.

Instead. Uribe jumped all over a hanging curveball and sent it soaring into the Dodgers bullpen in left field.

Bedlam erupted. The Dodgers led 4-3 and soon they were moving onto the NLCS.

6 and 7. Pedro Guerrero and Steve Yeager go back-to-back to beat Yankees ace Ron Guidry in Game 5 of the 1981 World Series

The Yankees needed a win to stem the Dodgers’ momentum, and with their ace, on the mound with a 1-0 lead going into the seventh, they looked to be on the verge of winning the game and taking a 3-2 series lead.

But after Pedro Guerrero tied the score with a solo shot off Guidry, Yeager capped the comeback with his own blast for back-to-back home runs, a 2-1 Dodgers lead and ultimately a three-games-to-two edge in the World Series.

8. Steve Finley wins the NL West with a grand slam in 2004

The Dodgers trailed the San Francisco Giants 3-0 heading to the ninth inning on the second-to-last day of the regular season and with the two bitter foes locked in a tight pennant race. A Giants win would have meant the division coming down to the final game of the regular season – and perhaps a one-game playoff.

But the Dodgers miraculously rallied back to tie it 3-3 off three Giants relievers and loaded the bases for Finley, who took in the moment as he settled into the batter’s box on that early fall Saturday afternoon.

Then he went to work on lefty Wayne Franklin, whose second pitch was a fastball that Finley blasted over the right-field wall to win the game and clinch the National League West crown.

9. Lou Johnson’s Game 7 home run to beat the Minnesota Twins in the 1965 World Series

With Sandy Koufax pitching on two days’ rest – and Don Drysdale waiting in the wings just in case Koufax ran into trouble – and Twins ace Jim Kaat on the opposing mound, runs were at a premium.

That is, until Johnson led off the fourth inning with a solo home run to put the Dodgers up 1-0.

Wes Parker would later double home the second run, but with Koufax on the hill, Johnson’s home run was the only support he needed.

10. Dick Nen’s ninth-inning home run against the Cardinals helps the Dodgers win the 1963 pennant

With the Dodgers and Cardinals embroiled in a heated pennant chase, the Dodgers traveled to St. Louis for a three-game series to hopefully cinch the deal - or risk letting the Cardinals back in.

After winning the first two games to take a three-game lead in the division, the Dodgers fell behind 5-4 in the ninth inning.

But up came Nen, a rookie first baseman from South Gate making his major-league debut.

After flying out in his first at-bat to lead off the eighth, Nen smashed a tying home run. The Dodgers ultimately won the game in 13 innings to sweep the Cardinals and extend their lead to four games.